Rick Santorum engaged Mitt Romney in a testy exchange over what the former Pennsylvania senator believed was an unfair attack on his record towards felon voting rights, providing early fireworks at Monday’s GOP debate. Santorum cited an ad by a pro-Romney Super-PAC that criticized him for voting in favor of a federal law that would reinstate voting records for felons who had completed their sentences and any required probation or parole. Citing that criticism, Santorum asked Romney if he believed “people who are felons who have served their time who’ve extended and exhausted their parole and probation, should they be given their right to vote?”
Romney, given the opportunity to respond, began to distance himself from the Super-PAC, noting that he was prohibited by law from coordinating with them. But Santorum quickly interrupted. “I’m looking for an answer to the question first,” Santorum said to applause from the audience.
Romney, clearly irritated, returned to his answer. “We have plenty of time, we’ll get there, I’ll do it in the order I want to do,” Romney said.
Full Article: Santorum hits Romney over voting rights attack ads – The Hill’s Ballot Box.